BISMARCK, N.D. – Sadie Neustel secured a top-10 finish, Xander Klinnert put together two steady rounds and the Valley City State women made a stronger return to the course Tuesday as the Vikings wrapped up the United Printing Marauders Invitational.
Competing Monday and Tuesday at Hawktree Golf Club, the Viking women finished fifth with a 760 (+184), cutting 14 strokes from their opening-round team score. VCSU's men tied for 10th out of 12 teams with a 645 (+69).
Neustel led the Viking women from the start, opening with an 83 before closing with an 89. Her 172 (+28) earned a tie for seventh.
Behind her, Ally Larson and Olivia Kalbus helped drive VCSU's second-day improvement. Larson shaved 17 strokes from her opening round, returning with a 96 to finish 25th at 209 (+65). Kalbus lowered her score by five strokes, closing with a 90 to tie for 19th at 185 (+41).
Isabella Schlick added rounds of 96 and 98 to place 22nd at 194 (+50). Together, the four Vikings brought their team score down from 387 Monday to 373 Tuesday.
On the men's side, Klinnert's tournament included an eagle Monday and a birdie on his final hole Tuesday. Competing individually, he carded rounds of 74 and 75 to finish 13th at 149 (+5), playing the back nine at even-par both days.
Owen Haase bounced back from an opening 82 with a 76 Tuesday, leading VCSU's team lineup and tying for 39th at 158 (+14). Dylan Hedge finished one stroke behind him, following an opening 75 with an 84 to tie for 41st.
Nick Meisch posted rounds of 81 and 80 to tie for 49th at 161 (+17). Noah Stockdill tied for 61st at 168 (+24), while Jace Fyre tied for 63rd at 169 (+25). The Vikings recorded team rounds of 320 and 325.
UP NEXT
The Vikings face a quick turnaround, returning to competition Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the MinDak College Invite at Hawley Golf Club in Hawley, Minn. Both VCSU squads then head to Helena, Mont., for the second fall Frontier Conference tournament Oct. 5–6, giving the Vikings another opportunity to build on their performances.
